Of all the planets in our solar system, none has captured our collective imagination like the red planet. Your students will follow the first human mission to Mars, set in 2033, as the crew struggles to land safely and establish a permanent presence on the planet.

Defiant Requiem tells the remarkable story of Rafael Schachter, a brilliant young and passionate Czech opera-choral conductor who was arrested and sent to the concentration camp of Theresienstadt (Terezin) in 1941.

Considered worse than worthless by their society, these men undertake a radical inner journey which transforms their self-image, gives them power over their impulses, and enables them to give back to the narrow community in which they must spend their remaining years.

Please Vote for Me is a contemporary Chinese film about an experiment with democracy in a class of third graders at the Evergreen Primary School in Wuhan, where students will vote to decide who will fill the prestigious position of Class Monitor.

The Way Home follows a seven-year-old boy from the big city, to a small and remote rural community, where he must live with his partially deaf and completely mute maternal grandmother while his mother looks for a job.

Discussion Guides For University & High School Classrooms,
Community Screenings & Parents

As the debate rages about the “war on coal” and the environmental and economic impact of clean air and clean water legislation, filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio’s 2017 documentary From the Ashes presents the voices of the people most concerned with the decline of the coal industry: environmentalists, climate scientists, politicians, economists, and especially the coal miners and other residents of decaying coal towns. Through these differing perspectives, the viewer learns more about the multiple impacts of coal mining on our health, our economy, and our climate.

The discussion guide prepared by Journeys in Film leads the viewer to a better understanding of this complex issue by providing background information on the nature and history of coal mining, particularly the surface mining that is the primary subject of the documentary. It explores the reasons behind the shift from coal to cheaper and less polluting alternative energy sources like natural gas, solar power, and wind power. It also provides information on both current environmental laws and some of the environmental activist movements that encourage cleaner power sources even beyond what the law requires. Thought-provoking discussion questions help viewers further analyze the issues presented in the film and consider the environmental situation in their own communities. Additional resources and suggestions for hosting a screening are also included in the discussion guide.

In Los Angeles in 1992, after a brief car chase, police pulled unarmed Rodney King from his car and brutally beat him. The incident was captured by a photographer living nearby and his video was released to the news media, unleashing an unparalleled series of marches, protests, and rioting. In news footage and photographs from that time, the film LA92 tells the story of King’s arrest, beating, and trial, and the subsequent events that shook the city of Los Angeles to its core. This discussion guide explores the roots of the violence, the typical characteristics of riots, attempts at police reform, and the relevance of King’s story for our time. A topical film that will touch off animated discussion of contemporary policing issues. Learn more about the documentary at the National Geographic Channel.

What is genius? How is it recognized? National Geographic's dramatic series Genius explores these questions through the life of a man universally acclaimed for his intellect: Albert Einstein. From a somewhat bored and distracted student emerged the man who not only developed the most famous formula of his time, e=mc2, but also advanced the acceptance of theoretical physics. The series follows Einstein beyond his academic acumen and reveals to viewers the wider story of a complete man—husband, lover, father, theorist, professor, and friend. It also helps the viewer understand the social and political context of Einstein’s life, including the rise of Nazi Germany, World War II, the development of nuclear weapons, and the Cold War. This discussion guide explores these topics and more, while inviting the audience to reflect upon Einstein's natural flaws alongside his genius and ultimately appreciate his truly remarkable life.

As the title of this discussion guide suggests, traditional ideas about gender are undergoing a sea change in the 21st century. In a special edition of National Geographic (published January 2017), you will find articles about such diverse topics as the science behind gender, the various ways that different cultures mark a boy’s transition to manhood, the risks girls face in many countries, and the status of gender equality internationally. A companion video of the same name, produced by Katie Couric, further extends the viewer’s understanding of gender. This guide draws upon both these resources to help users clarify their own knowledge and attitudes about gender and to promote discussion of how gender develops, how families can talk with their children about gender, the role of gender in the larger culture, and the next steps we can take to promote inclusion and acceptance in an increasingly diverse world.

Hidden Figures highlights the persistence of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson to achieve their goals despite the discriminatory biases of colleagues and community members and rise as leaders in the fields of mathematics and engineering. Their lives model vital lessons in confidence, structural equity and academic excellence that apply to all students to take flight with today.

Our guide will support dialogue with families, educators, middle and high school students to understand the historical context of these remarkable women and inspire academic and creative ambition in their own futures.

From the largest slum in Kampala, Uganda, to an international chess competition in Moscow and then to the world stage, the trajectory of the life of Phiona Mutesi has been stunningly swift. Her mentor Robert Katende had developed a chess program at a nearby mission, and he soon recognized that her quick and agile mind was especially adept at grasping the intricacies of the “Game of Kings” in spite of her being only nine years old. Through her persistence and enthusiasm, Phiona eventually became a chess champion, gained an education, and bought a home for her mother. Based on a true story, the film Queen of Katwe tells much about the life of poor people living in harsh conditions, but it also shows how hard work, courage, and the help of a good friend can transform a life. This discussion guide can be used to deepen and broaden students’ understanding of this inspiring film.

Actor Morgan Freeman has always wondered about the great questions that major world religions have tried to answer: Who is God? Why are we here? What happens after death? Why is there evil in the world? In a series of six episodes for National Geographic, he traveled almost a hundred thousand miles around the world seeking answers to these questions from archaeologists, scientists, and practitioners of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This guide for the series The Story of God With Morgan Freeman provides classes and discussion groups with an opportunity to extend their insights through thoughtful questions and additional resources.

Although attorney Jim Donovan fails to win the freedom of accused spy Rudolf Abel in court, history presents him with another opportunity. At great personal risk, he goes to Cold War Berlin to negotiate a prisoner exchange for the release of captured U-2 pilot Gary Francis Powers. This discussion guide covers the behind-the-scenes history of the Cold War, the U-2 incident, the Berlin Wall, and constitutional issues that should be of concern to all Americans in an era of espionage and surveillance.

This discussion guide gives you the opportunity to continue Malala's work: to learn about the status of girls' education in the world today, to discuss what you have read about girls' education, to explore resources to learn more, and to seek ways to make a change in your own community and in the wider world. For community screenings, panels, and workshops; and college courses and seminars.

Know How captures the reality of life in foster care from the point of view of those living in it. Written and acted by youth living in foster care, it's a hybrid of documentary and fiction. Five young people in the New York City foster care system share their experiences through a combination of story and song.